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Purdue Rare Isotope Measurement Laboratory

Information For New Submitters

Sample Submission Agreement

We request that submitters read and sign the following form to indicate your acceptance of the terms and conditions of the Sample Agreement. 

When submitting samples to PRIME Lab for AMS analysis the submitter agrees to the following terms and conditions:

  • Submitter acknowledges that AMS measurement is destructive, therefore, on receipt by PRIME Lab, all samples submitted become the property of the PRIME Lab and any leftover will be stored or disposed of in the University’s sole discretion.
  • Submitter will submit all sample information requested by PRIME Lab via the internet and inform us when sending samples by email and printed sheet should be included in the sample package.
  • The invoice will be sent to submitter only, even if the payment involves the third party. Submitter will be responsible to pay the AMS cost, including sample preparation if any, due thirty days from the invoice date.
  • Prepayment for samples funded by US Federal agencies is not acceptable.
  • The prepaid samples must be sent to PRIME Lab with the copy of prepayment receipt, due 90 days from the prepayment requested date
  • Submitter will acknowledge the PRIME Lab and the National Science Foundation when the results are published, A copy of any published material should be sent to PRIME Lab. 

I agree to all the above statements.

First Name *
Last Name *
Institution *
Email *
Date (dd/mm/yyyy) *
By clicking the button, you are sending us your acceptance 

Sample Submission Requirements

For Questions email: The Sample Management Team (primelab-samples@purdue.edu)

Sample size and Precision 

Rock Weight Calculator will help you determine the rock size for cosmogenic nuclide dating. The general guidelines for other materials is as follows:

Nuclide Material Minimum Size Preferred Size Water (liter) Ice (g) Solid/Sediment (g) Precision %a
10Be BeO 1mg 1.5mg 5-10 500 5 3
26Al Al2O3 2mg 4mg  -  -  - 7
36Cl AgCl 4mg 10mg Y* 500 100 3
129I Agl 1mg 3mg X** 500 100 5

* Let C (in ppm) = concentration of Cl in water.

  • If the ratio of 36Cl atoms to Cl atoms is low, then Y (liter) = 10 / C.
  • If the ratio is greater than 5E-12, then the estimated ratio is required in order to make dilution to keep our facilities from contamination.
  • The maximum value of water we can handle for 36Cl chemistry processing is 5 liters

** Let C = concentration of 129I in water

  • For C in unit of atoms/Liter, X = (1.5E+7) atoms / C
  • For C in unit of Bq/Liter, X = (2.0E-8) Bq / C
  • For C in unit of Curie/Liter, X = (5E-19) Curie / C
  • The maximum value of water we can handle for 129I chemistry processing is 1 liter.

a Precision is quoted for a isotope abundance level higher than 10-12 with at least prefered sample size.  

We will email you the measured isotope abundances first in excel format. Then in less than one month, we will send you the signed cover letter, itemized charge list, and the AMS results. All AMS results are stored in the relational database. Those submitted in the past ten years are internet accessible. Please contact George Jackson if sample is older than ten years.

AMS Charges and Billings

Itemized prices are published in our pricelist. The page also provides you a formal quotation on request. Once your samples arrive, the estimated charge will be sent to you. It is very important for you to check it and reply by email your acceptance of the estimated charge.

After AMS is finished, we will submit the charge statment to the business office. Please note that we do not directly handle the invoice. If you have question please check the following list.